Artificial Food Coloring Free Vegan Fresh Chickpea Cucumber Salad
This bright, herb-forward salad is everything a warm-weather dish should be — fresh, satisfying, and packed with real color from actual vegetables, not a drop of synthetic dye in sight. Chickpeas bring hearty protein and a creamy bite, while crisp cucumber, juicy cherry tomatoes, and sharp red onion keep every forkful lively. The dressing is where it really sings: a punchy blend of fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and ground cumin that ties the whole bowl together with a warm, citrusy depth. Parsley and mint add a garden-fresh lift that makes this feel far more special than the effort involved. Letting the salad rest for ten minutes before serving is a small step that makes a big difference, giving the chickpeas time to soak up all that bright, tangy dressing. It works beautifully as a standalone lunch or alongside grilled flatbread for something more substantial. When so many packaged salads and dressings sneak in unnecessary additives, it's genuinely refreshing to have a recipe where every ingredient is exactly what it looks like.
About FigFig is a food discovery app that helps you find foods and recipes that fit your dietary needs. Whether you have food allergies, intolerances, or follow a specific diet, Fig makes it easy to eat with confidence.
Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 2 cans (15 oz each) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 english cucumber, cut into ½-inch pieces
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ⅓ cup red onion, finely diced
- ⅓ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
- ¼ cup fresh mint leaves, roughly chopped
For the dressing
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice (from about 1 ½ lemons)
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp salt, plus more to taste
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- 1
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, ground cumin, salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes, if using, until combined.
- 2
In a large mixing bowl, combine the chickpeas, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, parsley, and mint.
Want the full recipe?
Create a Fig account for step-by-step instructions, access to our full recipe library, and more!